Airplane brake



H. HIERS AIRPLANE BRAKE June 24, 1930.

Filed July 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l yril.

Flrroe/WEY H. HIERS AIRPLANE BRAKE Filed July 5, 1928 `2 sheets-sheet 2rrolewsy June 24, 1930.

Patented .inne 24,1930

wenn

' HARVEY mms, or L osgaNGisrlEs, oALIroBNLA l AIBPLANE paal-KEApplication mea July s.. 1192s).l 4 'serial No. zsaais.

Itl iswell known to those familiar with'A airplanes, that the.wei ht of`an airplane when it is resting upon t e ground is carried at threeoints, the two ground wheels-and 5 the tail skid, and since `most of theweight is 'dist ibuted near the forward end of the fuselage, acomparatively small torque, ap-

pliedY about the groundl wheels as an axis,-

is necessary to lbalance the Plane upon the ground Wheels or to tip itorward beyond the balance oint. n

In the ordinary type of brakes such'as-are used upon automobiles, thebrakedrumsfr tate in the same direction as the wheelsfand there is aforward torque transmitted tothe brake band or shoe, the magnitude ofwhich is dependent upon the forward speed ofthe wheel, and the weightwhich the wheel is supporting. y 7

It therefore develops, that if an airplane, the wheels of whichareequipped with ordi-y nary brakes such as described above, is trav..eling over the ground at a high rate of speed, as in landing or taxying,the engage- 25 ment of the brake shoes with the/forward rotating drums,incurred -in the application of the. brakes, will result in a' forwardrotating torque, which in most 'cases is suiicient Ato throw thefuselage forward and out of balance, possibly'breaking the propeller orcompletely overturning the plane. Brakes of this nature have therefore,not

come into very wide use, their presence en'J' erally roving to be moredetrimentalt an `made to develop Aa brakin device for an airplane' whichcould '.be e ectively used, to stop the plane after it comes in'contactwith the ground,- thereby greatly reducing the 4o ous hooks and thirdwheel brake constructions have been developed for usein connecv .tionwith or in Jplace ofthe tailskid, the great ,diilicult with such devicesbeing that there is insufliscient weight at (the rear of the fuselagetomake them effective. j Another disadvantage of braking devices of the-third wheel or tailskidtype is that' they cannot be used in guiding thelane whenit being taxied upon the groun 'It beneficial, and variousattempts have been I' area necessary .for landing purposes. Vari-' willbe apparent lthat'if one wheel of the ordinary airplanel wheels, is heldwhile a plane is being taXied or drawn over the round" by `thepropeller, the other wheel veilig free to rotate, the plane will tend topivot V about the wheel which is'being held. This system adds'greatly`Ito the dexterity with which a-.plane may be guided since the method'ofusing' the rudder, as commonly used is at; best rather awkward andinelfci ent."' It is therefore an object of this invention tov develop abraking device, particularly adapted for. use upon the ground wheels ofan airplane f' in which'the braking torque is opposed to the rotation ofthe wheels and the forward pull of the propeller, and in f which thebrake upon each wheel may be individually controlled for guiding theplane upon the ground.' These objects vare accomplished by pro-F- vidingthe brake drum with'mechanism by means of which it is rotated in adirection opposite to the direction of the rotation of the wheel, andmeans whereby the braking action of the two wheels is separatelycontrolled.4 If a drum-engaging vmember such as a shoe or band ismounted upon a fuselage supporting strut, it will be apparent that ftheengagement betweenthe shoe andjthe s0 drum will, result in a torquebeing applied to the fuselage which tends to increase the force withwhich the tail skid engages the ground. vA device of this naturetherefore evelops three braking points upon a plane and eliminates allpossibility ofthe plane bi'ndg nosed-overwhen the brakes are apple. Y.Another feature of this invention consists in providing'a brake drummounted upon a vehicle in-a manner tov impart a slower rotation to thedrum than to the wheel of; the vehicle.r The pur ose'of this' is topermit the engagement o the Ybrake drum' with the brake band at a slowerrate of speed-'between the drum and the band than ordinarily occurs whenthe'drum is driven directly atthe same speed as'the wheel. It

is a well known fact that the engagement larly in automobiles andairplanes traveling 'at a high rate of speed, requires-experience andconsiderable skill to avoid a sudden and disastrous initial action ofthe brake. It is well established in mechanics that the frictionalcoefficient between bodies varies pro-` portionally as the relativespeed between the two bodies.

It is to be Vrecognized that brakes, and particularly automobile brakesAand airplane brakes, require an initial soft or velvety action, and itis also well known that such action becomes impossible at high rates ofspeed. Consequently, it is an object of this invention to provide abrake drum that rotates at less speed than .theground wheel of thevehicle.

2 in a plane -in Fig. 2.v

[which:

Further objects of "this kinvention arel the development of a brake ofthe class described which'is compact and light in con-` struction, andwhich may be-easily installed and operated. A

The objects and advantageous structural featuresof this invention willbe better understood from the following description of the accompanyings drawings, whlcli are chosen for i us'trative purposes only and in Fig.1 is an elevational view showing an 'airplane fand the manner ofapplying the invention. A n l. Fig. 2 ma be considered asan enlargedelevation of the right wheel of the plane shown in Fig. 1. v

vFig. 3 is, a transverse elevational section of a preferred constructionembodying the invention, and may be considered as having been takenthrough the wheel shown inFig. represented by the line 3-3 Fig. 4 is anelevational section taken. in

ya' plane?" represented 'by the line 4-4 in Fig. 3. l l I Fig. 5 is asectional elevation correspond iing to Fig. 2 but showing a modiliedform 18 controlled b `of the invention, and

Fig. 6is` a sectional elevation taken in a plane represented by the line6-6 in Fig.5. f

More particularly describing the inven` tion as herein illustrated,reference numeral 11 indicates an airplane embodying a fusel' lage 12,ground wheels 13, ground wheel struts 14, bracingA struts 15, and a tailskid '16.' f A 'The ground Y wheels` are brakes 17 which are applie bypull rods hand levers 19. It will be understood t 'at both brakes may,if de slired, be controlled from a .single lever,fbut

as was mentioned above it @preferable to have them individually.'controlledfor guiding purposes. 'j F I n the form gf the inventionillustratedvin Figs. 2'to 4'inclusive, a hous'in l20 is illustrated asbeing mounted upon 't e lower end rovidd withV 'axle 27 which supportsthe ground wheel 13.

The forward rotating sleeve 26 is outwardly attached to the ground wheel13 by any suitable means suchas the plates 28 and 29 upon the wheel andthe sleeve respectively, the plates being held againstrelative rotationby means of the pin and recess construction* indicated at 30. f'

I`The* sleeve 26'is'inwardly provided with 80 a peripheral gear 31 whichengages a secondy ary gear or drivingmember 32 .rotatably supported inthe housing 20 by means of a shaft 33.` The shaft33-also supports a 85pinion 34 which `is illustrated as being'keyed to the gearv32.

A brake drum 35 is mounted concentrically upon the rearward rotatingsleeve 25 and is keyed or otherwise made rigid therewith. Means forimparting rearward rotation to the sleeve 25, is provided in the formlof an inwardly formed or rigidly mounted l sprocket or gear wheel 36adapted to receive a sprocket chain 37 through whichit re- 95 ceivesrearward rotation from the pinion 34.

A drum. engaging member comprising the brake band- 38v adapted to engagetheouter periphery of the drum 35 is illustrated as being mounted uponwheel supporting standard 14 by any suitable clamping means indicated at39. Theband is brought into engagement-with the drum by any standardmeans such as the spring controlled lever organization illustratedat-40. Movement is transmitted to the band 38 through lever 41 by meansofthe pull rod 18. The respective parts of the organization areillustrated as being held in position rela'- tive `to the groundwheel.13 byvmeans of a lbrace supporting sleeve or collar 42 which isretained upon the shaft 27 by means -such as the lock nut 43. 4 l

The gears 31 and 32 and the pinions or sprocket gears 34 and 36, arepreferably ar- 115 ranged .in a. ratio such that the speed of the drum35 is greatly reduced relative to the A speed of the wheel-13. Thisarrangement greatly increases the torque applying force\ and reduces thepossibility Iof grabbingl due to a sudden 'application of the brakes athigh speed.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a modified forni of the invention embodying a brake17 in which intermeshing gears are used tov obtain the reverse'rotationof the brake drum 35i. In this construction' the forward rotatingxsleeve26Arotatableonshaft 27 "is internally profvided .with a gear 45. Thegear 45 engages a secondary gear V46rotatablymounted on a l13 0 wardrotating sleeve-25 which supports the 'with the gear 47. An intermediategear 49 is illustrated as being mountedon a shaft 50,

and is interposed betweenthe pinion 484`and a rearward rotating gear 51which is keyed or otherwise rigidly mounted upon the reardrum Althoughthe gearsshown in Figs-i 5 and 6 are illustrated as being adaptedvtodrive the' drum in the same speed ratio with the wheel,

it will be understood that these gears mayc be arranged-to obtain aspeed ratio similar to th'at whichwould be obtained with theorganization shown in Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive.

It will also be understoodI that while. l have herein illustrated twoembodiments'in which this invention may @be constructed, that theinventionfis not limitedv "tol the specific constructions set -forth butincludes Within its scope such changes. as may fairly come within thespirit 'of the appended claims.

- I claim as my invention:

1. For use in combination with a'n airplane, a brakingA device embodyingaground wheel, a strut member extending downwardly from the body of'saidplane and brake means interposed between said wheel'and said strutadaptedl 'to transmit la torque to train of gears.

2. For use in combination with' an -airplane, a braking deviceembodying: `a`

ground wheel; a strutv member extending downwardly from the body of saidplane;

a drum engaging member'mounted on said strut member; and brake drum.adapted to engage said engaging'member, said brakel drum being providedwith a sleeve coaxial withand rotatable relative tol the axleof -saidwheel; and means interposed between '.said sleeve andv said wheel y-iorimparting rotation to said sleeve opposite tothe rota'- tion of saiddrum.

4. For use in combination withn an airj plane, a brakingv deviceembodying: a groundy wheel; a strut memberextending downwardly from thebody of said plane;

a drum engaging member mounted on'said strut member; a brake vdrumadapted to en.

gage said engaging member, said brake drum being provided'with asleevecoaxial with' and rotatable relative tothe laxle of said wheel;and' gearmeans interposed between said sleeve and said wheel for im*parting rotation to said drum opposite' to downwardly from the bodyofsaid plane;

a drum engaging membermounted on said strutmember; a brake drum adaptedto enf gage .said .engaging member, .said brake drum being provided witha sleeve coaxial with and rotatable relative to the axle of said wheel;and meansincluding intermeshing gears and a sprocket chain interposedbetween said sleeve and said wheel for imparting' rotation to said drumopposite to the" rotation of'said wheel.

6. For-use in combination with an air, vplane having a ground wheel anda supporting strut, a braking. device embodying: a forwardrotatingsleeve rotatably mounted on the axle of said ground wheel; meansfor imparting forward rotation to said sleeve from said ground wheel; aseparately supported driving member adapted to receive rotation fromsaid sleeve; a rearwardv `rotating sleeve rotatably mounted upon saidaxle; means for imparting reversev rotation to said last mentionedsleeve from said separately supported driving member;- a'brake drumadapted to receive rotation from said last mentioned sleevef' and a drumengag' ing member mounted on said strut and adapted to engage said drum.

7. For use 1in combination` with an airplanerhaving a ground wheel and asupport-` ing strut, a braking device embodying: a housing mounted onsaid strut and adapted engage said engaging member; and means,

to receive the axle of said ground Wheel; a forward rotating sleevemember provided with a peripheral gear rotatably 'mounted on said axlevand adapted to receive rotation from said wheel; a bearing Ashaftmounted in said housing; a secondary gear member mounted on sald bearingshaft and adapted to receive rotation from said pe-v ripheral gear; arearward rotating sleeve on said axle; rotating means .interposed be#tween said secondary gear and said rearward rotating sleeve; a brakedrum mounted on said rearward rotating sleeve; and a drum engagingmember -mounted on said strut adapted to engage said brake drum.

plane having a ground wheel and a supportin strut, a braking deviceembodying: a housing lmounted on said strut and adaptedto receive theaxle of said ground wheel; aforward rotating sleeve member provided8..For use in combination with an .air-l with a peripheral gearrotatably mounted on said axleV and ladapted `to receive rotation fromsaid wheel; a bearing shaft mounted .in said housing; a ,secondary gearmember including a sprocket wheel mounted on said bearing shaft 4andadapted to receiye rotation from said peripheral gear; a rearwardrotating sleeve Yhaving a sprocket wheel mounted thereon, rotatablymounted on said axle; chain means connecting said sprocket, wheels Jforimparting. rotation to sai-d last mentioned sleeve; a brake drum*mounted on said rearward rotating sleeve; and a drum engaging membermounted on said strut adapted to engage said brake drum.

.9. For use in combination with an 'airplane having a ground wheel and asupporting strut,v a braking device embodying: a housing-mounted on saidstrut and adapted to .receive the axle of said ground wheel;

`a forward rotating sleeve member provided V`witl1 a peripheral gearrotatably mounted on said axle and adapted to receive rotation from saidwheel; a bearing shaft mounted in said housing; a secondar gear member vmounted on said bearing sha t and adapted .y interposed between saiduwheel and, Said' to receiverotation from said peripheral gear; arearward rotating sleeve on said axle; rotating means interposed betweensaid secondary gear and said rearwardrotating sleeve; a brake drummounted on sald rearward rotating sleeve; and a drum engaglngmemlfromsaid wheel; a bearing shaft mounted in said housing; a secondarygearl member including a sprocket wheel mounted on'said bearing shaftand adaptedl to receive rotation from said peripheral gear; a rearwardrotating sleevev having a sprocket wheel vmounted thereon, rotatablymounted on said Yffaxle; chain means connecting said sprocket lwheelsfor ,imparting rotation to said last mentioned sleeve; a brake drummounted on ,said rearward rotating sleeve; and -a drum engaging member-mounted on said strut adapted to engage said-brake drum,

said vchain and gear organization being adapted to have a powermultiplying ratiofbetween said wheeland said drum..

`drum for-imparting rotation `to said drum opposite to the-rotation ofsaid wheel,'said interposed means having a power multiplying ratiobetween said wheeland said drum.

13. A bralngf device embodying: a ground wheel; a brake drum; meansinter- 'posed between said wheel and vsaid drumv for imparting rotationto said drum op- Vpolsitegto therotation of said wheel, and a to engagedrum engaging -member adapted said drum. Y 14.' An airplane brakeorganization em-l bodying: a ground wheel; a brake drum; w

means interposed between said wheel and said drum for imparting rotationto saiddrum opposite to the rotation of said wheel; a drum engagingmember adapted to engage said drum; and Ymeans for transmitting torquefrom said drum'engaging member to an airplane strut.

15. For use in combination with-an airplane having a ground wheelandr asupporting strut, a braking device embodying: a

housing mounted on said strut and adapted to receive the axle `oit' saidground wheel;

. a .forward rotating sleevey member" provided with a peripheral gearlrotatably -mounted on said axleJ and adapted to" receive rotationfromsaid wheel; a bearing shaft mounted-in said housing; a secondarygear member mounted on said bearing shaft andq adapted to receiverotation from said peripheral gear; a rearward rotating sleeve 'i onsaid axle; rotating means interposed be! tween said secondary gear andsaid rearward rotating sleeve; a brake drum mounted Jon said rearwardrotating sleeve; and a drum engaging member-mounted on said lool' strutadapted to engage Said brake drum, f

said housing forming part of said supporting Strut. v

1'6. A braking device embodying a ground wheel; a brake drum; and 'meansinterposed Pbetween said wheel 'and s'aid drum for'im parting a speed ofrotation to said drum lessI than the speed of rotation of said wheel.l

17. Ay braking devjce embodying a-ground wheel; a brake drum; and'meansinterposed between said wheel and said drum for imparting rotation toysaid drum,4 saidinte'rposed -means having a specdfreducing ratio d rbetween said wheel and said drum.

In testimony whereof; I havehereunto set myv hand at Los Angeles,California; this 26th day of June, 1928. Y i f y "HARVEY/IDEES."

11. A braking device embodying: a f

ground wheel a brake drum; and means interposed between saidwheel andsaid drum, for imparting rotation to said drum opposite to the rotationlof-said wheel.

12. A braking device embodying: a

ground wheel; a brake drum; and means iai'

